Water-saving faucet

ABSTRACT

A faucet includes a faucet body including a half spherical, concave seat and a passageway having one end communicating with the seat; an externally threaded, hollow connector secured to the faucet body and communicating with the other end of the passageway; a ball valve including a hollow ball rotatably disposed in the seat, a channel communicating with the ball, and a port in the ball; a bonnet releasably secured to the faucet body and including a truncated, conic hole with the channel passing through and a portion of the ball disposed therein; a faucet spigot threadedly secured to the channel; a first O-ring disposed between the passageway and the ball; and a second O-ring disposed between the seat and the ball. In a first position the port communicates with the passageway. In a second position the port does not communicate with the passageway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to plumbing fixtures and more particularly to a water-saving faucet.

2. Description of Related Art

In a world where the human population is going to exceed 10 billion at the end of this century, water and its availability will be the natural resource problem over which disputes will arise. The U.S. has a relative abundance of clean water provided through a reliable supply system. This abundance, however, has also led to a lack of urgency in recognizing this coming natural resource problem.

Several of the faucet types sold in the U.S. are of the handle type, where one lifts or lowers the handle to increase or decrease the volume of flow and twists it right and left to change the temperature of the water. The typical ‘throw’ up and down distance is about one or two inches, between off and fully-open positions. It is very difficult for humans to accurately adjust the volume of water without paying particular attention to the task of turning on the water. However, this is a task people most often perform without much thought. Hence, most users almost always turn on the water full, even when only a small trickle of it is needed. This is a huge waste of this precious resource. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a faucet comprising a faucet body including a half spherical, concave seat and a passageway having one end communicating with the half spherical, concave seat; an externally threaded, hollow connector secured to the faucet body and communicating with the other end of the passageway; a ball valve including a hollow ball rotatably disposed in the half spherical, concave seat, a channel communicating with the hollow ball, and a port in the hollow ball; a bonnet releasably secured to the faucet body and including a truncated, conic hole with the channel passing through and a portion of the hollow ball disposed therein; a faucet spigot threadedly secured to the channel; a first O-ring disposed between the passageway and the hollow ball; and a second O-ring disposed between the half spherical, concave seat and the hollow ball; wherein in a first position the port is aligned with the passageway; and wherein in a second position the port is not aligned with the passageway.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a faucet according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the faucet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the fluid flow being blocked by rotating the faucet spigot clockwise;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the fluid flow being allowed to pass by rotating the faucet spigot counterclockwise; and

FIG. 7 schematically depicts operations of the faucet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, a faucet in accordance with the invention comprises a faucet body 1 including a half spherical, concave seat 11 and a passageway 12 having one end communicating with the seat 11; an externally threaded, hollow connector 2 secured to the faucet body 1 and communicating with the other end of the passageway 12; a ball valve 3 including a hollow ball 31 rotatably disposed in the seat 11, a channel 32 communicating with the ball 11, and a port 33 in the ball 31; a bonnet 4 releasably secured to the faucet body 1 and including a truncated, conic hole 41 with the channel 32 passing through and a portion of the ball 31 disposed therein; a faucet spigot 5 threadedly secured to the channel 32; a first O-ring 6 disposed between the passageway 12 and the ball 31; and a second O-ring 7 disposed between the seat 11 and the ball 31.

As shown in FIG. 5 specifically, an individual may rotate the faucet spigot 5 clockwise until the port 33 is prevented from communicating with the passageway 12, thereby blocking the fluid flow from the connector 2, the passageway 12, the port 33, and the channel 32 to the faucet spigot 5.

As shown in FIG. 6 specifically, an individual may rotate the faucet spigot 5 counterclockwise until the port 33 is aligned with the passageway 12, thereby allowing the fluid flow to pass the connector 2, the passageway 12, the port 33, and the channel 32 to the faucet spigot 5.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A faucet, comprising: a faucet body including a half spherical, concave seat and a passageway having one end communicating with the half spherical, concave seat; an externally threaded, hollow connector secured to the faucet body and communicating with the other end of the passageway; a ball valve including a hollow ball rotatably disposed in the half spherical, concave seat, a channel communicating with the hollow ball, and a port in the hollow ball; a bonnet releasably secured to the faucet body and including a truncated, conic hole with the channel passing through and a portion of the hollow ball disposed therein; a faucet spigot threadedly secured to the channel; a first O-ring disposed between the passageway and the hollow ball; and a second O-ring disposed between the half spherical, concave seat and the hollow ball; wherein in a first position the port communicates with the passageway; and wherein in a second position the port does not communicate with the passageway. 